CM reviews Pulwama development

Pulwama, Sep 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the developmental scenario of Pulwama district, covering key sectors including Health, Rural Development, Education, Social Welfare, Infrastructure and Public Works, Heritage, Tribal Development, Housing, Rural Livelihoods, Jal Shakti, Power, HADP, Horticulture, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, and Industries, among others.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Basharat Qayoom gave a presentation highlighting the functioning of key departments and major developmental areas of the district.
During the meeting, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from the district raised issues of public importance, with the Chief Minister giving them a patient hearing and assuring timely action on the issues raised.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for developmental projects worth over Rs 86 crore.
Works worth Rs 23.12 crore were dedicated to the public through e-inaugurations, including the NTPHC Ratnipora (Rs 2.85 crore), WSS Augmentation at Ratnipora (Rs 5.07 crore), PHC Newa (Rs 2.99 crore), road restoration projects, school infrastructure additions in Rajpora and Tral, the Milk Village at Sangerwani (Rs 3.35 crore), and a major bridge over the Lam Nallah (Rs 4.54 crore).
Foundation stones were also laid for projects worth Rs 63 crore, encompassing extensive road network upgrades, high-capacity bridges over the Romshi Nallah and Batagund, a pasteurised compost unit at Kakapora, and a ruminant-cum-disease diagnostic centre at Pulwama.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister underscored the need for urgent execution and directed that all ongoing works be completed expeditiously in view of the limited working season drawing to a close. He laid specific emphasis on projects funded under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), directing the concerned departments to ensure their physical and financial completion without delay.
Highlighting Pulwama’s strengths in saffron cultivation and milk production, the Chief Minister directed the departments to focus on transforming raw milk into high-value dairy products. He called for formulation of specialised projects, greater inter-departmental coordination and strengthening of cooperative models for processing and value addition in the dairy sector, aimed at increasing the earnings of local dairy farmers and generating employment.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary; Minister for Health & Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare Departments, Sakina Itoo; Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments, Javid Ahmed Dar; Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science & Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports and ARI & Trainings Departments, Satish Sharma; Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani; Members of the Legislative Assembly from Pampore, Hasnain Masoodi; Pulwama, Waheed ur Rehman Parra; Rajpora, Ghulam Mohuddin Mir; and Tral, Rafiq Ahmed Naik; Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, heads of the departments, besides senior officers.